Ban honours memory of former General Assembly President Stoyan Ganev

9 July 2013  Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today honoured the late Stoyan Ganev of Bulgaria, a former President of the General Assembly, praising his valuable contributions to the United Nations.

“He brought welcome energy to our work at a time of particular challenge and hope for the Organization,” Mr. Ban said at a meeting held by the Assembly in memory of Mr. Ganev, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 57.

“Mr. Ganev, a skilled jurist and politician, used his tenure to advance that work, and we today continue to build on his contributions.”

A former Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Mr. Ganev was elected in 1992 to serve as the President of the 47th session of the Assembly.

Mr. Ban recalled how Mr. Ganev had helped steer the UN's next steps following the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, and how his regional knowledge brought a useful perspective to address the turmoil in Eastern Europe.

“Most of all his tenure coincided with a period when the United Nations, freed from the constraints of the Cold War, was able to act and engage in new ways to address global problems,” Mr. Ban said.

The Secretary-General offered his condolences to Mr. Ganev's family and to all his friends and loved ones in Bulgaria and around the world.

“May all who knew Stoyan Ganev take some solace in knowing that he is remembered here as someone who believed in the great power and potential of the General Assembly,” Mr. Ban said.

President of the General Assembly Vuk Jeremić also offered his condolences, noting Mr. Ganev's “illustrious career both within and outside the United Nations.”

“By all accounts, he was an astute diplomat, capable at facilitating the building of consensus on topics that included regional disarmament, the establishment of a fund to protect the environment, humanitarian aid to Somalia, and UN peacekeeping.”

Mr. Jeremić added Mr. Ganev would be remembered above all for his commitment to the founding principles of the UN.